“You get more unattractive by the day,” she says as she stands, and I feel the slice to the chemistry that wrapped around us only moments ago.
I can’t help but chuckle at how quickly this woman is to cut down any person who hits too close to home. She slowly walksto her bedroom, picking up Borris with the remnants of his treat, and looks over her shoulder as she says, “I told you if you give him one treat, you’ll become a lifetime sucker.”
“Maybe I’m trying too hard for someone in this apartment to actually like me,” I suggest as I take a bite of the half-eaten sandwich.
She gives me a bored look as she says, “You’re late on rent. Don’t make me a shitty landlord.”
“You don’t need my help in that regard, sweetheart.”
She kicks her bedroom door shut behind her, and I readjust my cock as I stand. I’m tempted to follow her, to give in to the carnal pleasure we can provide for one another. Especially after she left me high and dry the last time. But I play into this game, enjoying its song and dance.
I pull out my wallet and throw a stack of hundreds down on the kitchen counter.
It’s far more than the actual rent due, but money is nothing to me. Which reminds me how peculiar it is for a woman such as herself, who grew up in a wealthy household, to live in an apartment like this.
But it only heightens my curiosity. And besides, I know putting more money down is going to piss her off, and hopefully draw more of her attention and interest in my direction—even if it’s the bad kind.
8
ROMI
“You made it.” Sienna's chair screeches along the floor as she pushes it back. She seems surprised and excited that I made it to our regular coffee meetup. It’s especially unusual for her to be here early.
Ara sits across from her and next to Elanee Lane. I drop Borris’s leash, and he immediately struts over to the barista, who makes welcoming cooing noises at him. The little stud is such a womanizer, and they have a secret stash of treats just for him.
“I told you I’d be here.” I raise one finger to the barista, who smiles sweetly, indicating my regular chai latte order.
Since everything that’s happened, this is the first time I’ve made the effort to join them for our weekly meetup since Lorraine’s passing, despite Sienna’s insistent calls and random drop-ins. It hasn’t felt the same since Lily left. Although I’m happy she’s moved to Italy and made the choice for herself after a lifetime of appeasing her family, it won’t ever be the same without her light in the group.
With Sienna due to fly to London over the next week to pursue her first acting gig, it feels as if everyone is moving on, and my personal stagnation is a glaring truth.
I take the seat beside Sienna, and she immediately acts as if nothing has changed. For that, I’m grateful. I'm becoming tired of the way people tiptoe around me. The only one who doesn’t do it, surprisingly, is my new roommate. Although he has no reason to, because he doesn’t know what I was like before, though it is rather refreshing—no matter how irritating he is.
“Ara was just saying she and Luca have been arguing about baby names,” Sienna tells me, trying to include me in the conversation. “It’s not surprising he’s being so rigid about the name choices, all of which are boy names.”
“Oh, you’re having a boy?” Elanee asks, taking a sip of her tea.
“No. Well, we don't know. I personally have a feeling it’s a girl, but I decided to keep the gender as a surprise, knowing how much it irritates Luca when he’s not in control,” Ara says with a mischievous smile, then looks over to her bodyguard.
None of us has questioned it because Luca seems like the intense, overprotective type. And maybe there’s more to it, but I, for one, make a point to stay out of people's business unless they ask for help.
“And what about you, Sienna? Are you excited for London?” Elanee asks.
Sienna breaks out into a brilliant smile. “I’m so excited to see Michael. I think the distance has really been straining us lately, but once we’re reunited, it’ll be fine, and we can start actually planning this wedding.”
I haven’t had anything nice to say about Michael for some time. Their engagement happened quickly, and ever since, with his acting gigs in various parts of the world and Sienna remaining mostly here for her modeling, the two have barely seen one another. Bit by bit, she’s tried to mold herself around his schedule. I stopped voicing my concern months ago because she’ll turn black and blue defending their great love.
“That’s really nice. I’m sure he’s excited you two can live with one another for a few months, and what a great opportunity for your career,” Elanee says, as if reading the fact that neither Ara nor I have any supportive words.
“How about you and Dmitri, Elanee? Anything new?” Sienna asks enthusiastically.
“No, we’re just enjoying our time together around our busy schedules. There are still plenty of people who are looking for a marriage that comes along in a pretty package, so business is booming in that regard, and although Dmitri is supposed to be gradually easing into work after his brain surgery, he’s thrown himself straight back in.”
We all grow quiet for a moment. That very much sounds like Dmitri Volkov. Though, it’s nice to see the former playboy settle down, especially with someone gentle like Elanee. I can only imagine what it might’ve been like for them when they discovered the tumor, and the events after that.
“What about you, Romi? I heard you have a new roommate,” Elanee asks, always quick to divert the conversation from herself. She’s always been rather reserved, and I respect it. Except for when she turns the attention to me.
“Ooh, yes, tell us more about the person who moved in. Is it going well?” Sienna asks.
